- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 30 August 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what steps are being taken to eliminate sexual harassment in schools.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 7 September 2023
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 07 June 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Patrick Harvie on 15 June 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to strengthen tenants’ rights.
Answer
We believe that a well-regulated private rented sector is good for landlords and tenants.
Since 2016 we have ended no-fault evictions and expanded access to tribunal services. We strengthened eviction protections, both in the Coronavirus Recovery and Reform Act and the Emergency Cost of Living Act, introducing a rent cap for most in-tenancy rent rises in the private sector. Just this month I announced our intention, subject to Parliamentary approval, to retain that cap until March next year.
Further reform is needed and we have set out our proposals in our draft New Deal for Tenants.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Friday, 19 May 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 31 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how much funding distributed by (a) Scottish Enterprise, (b) Highlands and Islands Enterprise and (c) South of Scotland Enterprise in each of the last three financial years was issued to cooperatives, and what proportion of overall funding this represented.
Answer
Research shows that co-operatives, and other inclusive business models, are fair and inclusive places to work and as a result enjoy financial and social resilience. Co-operative business models can play a critical role in economic recovery, supporting the Scottish Government’s aim to create a fairer, stronger and more democratic economy.
We will continue to work through Co-operative Development Scotland (CDS) and the enterprise agencies to support the growth of co-operative and other alternative business models. The funding distributed by Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise to cooperatives is an operational matter for each agency and I have therefore asked the agencies’ Chief Executives to respond to you directly.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Monday, 22 May 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023
To ask the First Minister what impact the Scottish Government's Nature Restoration Fund is having on communities on Arran.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 25 May 2023
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 25 April 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Neil Gray on 5 May 2023
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its policy position to encourage businesses not to trade with Russia, how it determines whether or not a business in Scotland is continuing to trade with Russia, and whether it is making use of the lists compiled by organisations such as Razom We Stand, #LeaveRussia and the Yale School of Management.
Answer
In March 2022 the then Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy wrote an open letter encouraging all businesses to sever links with Russia. The Scottish Government policy of not supporting trade and investment activity with Russia is in addition to the UK’s legally binding sanctions regime; ultimately we cannot force businesses to act if what they plan is otherwise lawful, including not breaching the UK sanctions regime.
Our economic agencies undertake a number of checks on businesses to identify any ongoing investment, trading, or other links with Russia, and steps they have taken to withdraw from them, while recognising where it may not be feasible, for example due to contractual obligations or if staff safety might be jeopardised.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 19 April 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on whether businesses, which make use of unpaid trial shifts, should be disqualified from receiving public sector grants and procurement contracts.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 27 April 2023
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Tom Arthur on 21 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to revise national planning rules in relation to domestic energy microgeneration, such as photovoltaic arrays on roofs, in conservation areas, following the publication of the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4).
Answer
We intend to consult on the third phase of our review of permitted development rights in due course. The consultation will seek views on proposals to extend permitted development rights for domestic energy microgeneration, including solar panel installations.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 15 March 2023
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Current Status:
Initiated by the Scottish Government.
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 16 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government what its plans are for the position of Chair of the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) when the current Chair’s term comes to an end on 31 August 2023, and whether it will set out the potential implications for the new qualifications body that is to replace the SQA in 2024.
Answer
As we work towards the introduction of the Education (Scotland) Bill prior to the summer recess and the creation of the new Qualifications Body, visionary and resilient leadership is essential for the SQA and its successor organisation. This will guide it through the process of transition and embed the required reforms set out in the findings of the Muir report and on which the Government is determined to deliver. I am therefore announcing an appointment round for the position of Chair of the SQA, with the successful candidate taking up post in September 2023.
It is my intention that the new Chair of the SQA will transfer to the new body and will become the Chair of the new Qualification Body. Provisions to allow this transfer to happen will be included in the upcoming Bill and will be subject to Parliamentary approval.
This approach will support the crucial transition period allowing the new Qualifications Body to take full advantage of the changes in leadership, culture and governance necessitated by the Government’s Reform Programme. This will also be shaped by the National Discussion, the findings of the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment, the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape.
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 22 February 2023
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023
To ask the Scottish Government how the Clyde Metro project will improve rail services on the existing Milngavie line.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 2 March 2023
- Asked by: Ross Greer, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Green Party
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 24 January 2023
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Current Status:
Answered by Shirley-Anne Somerville on 7 February 2023
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the annual operating cost of the Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy in each of the final three years in which it ran.
Answer
The Scottish Survey of Literacy and Numeracy (SSLN) was an annual sample survey which monitored national performance of school children at P4, P7 and S2 in literacy and numeracy in alternate years. Operating costs are set out in the following table and are broken down by element of spend. As Support Assessors were funded to facilitate group discussions between pupils as part of the Listening and Talking assessment, these costs are only associated with the years that the literacy survey took place.
| £000s | £000s | £000s |
| 2014 (Literacy survey) | 2015 (Numeracy survey) | 2016 (Literacy survey) |
SQA grant funding | 615 | 774 | 682 |
Support Assessors | 117 | - | 117 |
SG analytical staff costs | 175 | 210 | 210 |
Cost of compliance | 398 | 460 | 394 |
Total | 1,305 | 1,444 | 1,403 |